Our Vision
It's Time to Upgrade the Turf Field for Safety and Durability!
St. Mary’s Ryken envisioned a pioneering initiative 15 years ago, aspiring to provide our students and local community with the county's first-ever synthetic turf playing field. In 2010, that vision became a reality with the establishment of the MIL Family Field and Stadium. Over the years, this facility has not only granted our community the opportunity to play on a durable surface, ensuring increased safety and enhanced performance in the competitive Washington Catholic Athletic Conference (WCAC), but it has also significantly reduced environmental impacts.
Since the installation of the turf field, St. Mary's Ryken has clinched an impressive 10 WCAC championships, underscoring the critical role of this facility in fostering a robust student-athlete experience and shaping memorable "Friday Night Lights". The impact of this initiative extends far beyond the athletic realm, touching the lives of thousands of youth who have participated in varsity sports, summer camps, travel teams, elementary relay races, Special Olympics, movie nights, and various other enriching activities. These experiences have not only brought great joy but have also created enduring memories, emphasizing the enduring significance of St. Mary's Ryken's commitment to the local community.
Our Fundraising Goal
Our goal is to raise $1 million to fund a state-of-the-art turf replacement and installation of a video board. Fundraising for the Turf began with the SMR Knight Raffle ($66,000 raised) and will continue through 2024 with the Knight Gala and other fundraising intiatives.
From President Rick Wood
You can elevate the SMR student and community experience with your generous support! We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all Giving Tuesday donors for championing the SMR Turf Field and Video Board campaign today. Your contribution is a vital step towards creating an enhanced and vibrant environment for our students and the community. Together, we're making a lasting impact, and we sincerely appreciate your commitment to this transformative initiative!
Why are donations necessary?
Our Turf Field serves as a hub for various events and sports.
Did you know?
- It's time for an upgrade as our current field is 15 years old, and the lifespan of turf is 12 years.
- The Turf Field is used by all students for commencement, school-wide outdoor events, and athletic events (for cheerleading, dance, field hockey, football, boys and girls soccer, boys and girls lacrosse, track and field, and out-of-season practices for most teams).
- The impact of this field is immense; SMR has won 10 WCAC championships since its installation. It's a place of great joy, memories, and countless enriching activities for our community.
- Thousands of our youth have benefitted from participating in varsity sports, summer camps, travel teams, elementary relay races, Special Olympics, college games, baseball practice, movie nights, and countless other enrichment activities that have provided great joy and memories.
- It is now time to replace and upgrade the existing turf surface with the latest innovations that simulate the best natural grass surfaces. This includes increased padding for safety, a natural, renewable in-fill, and an all-weather surface that can be used by multiple sports.
- Including the field enhancements, a new video board will be installed that will not only be used for game days but also for large ceremonies, community concerts, and many outdoor events! This would be the first video board and the newest turf field in the tri-county area so we are excited about the many possibilities that can elevate the game day and community experience!